ProRodeo Sports News - October 19, 2018

Gold Rush

Rickard wins California, eyes 2019 world title

TOPS AT LANCASTER — October 5-7 ALL-AROUND COWBOY Doyle Hoskins $3,450 BAREBACK RIDING 1. Clayton Biglow ....... 252.5 pts. on three 2. Wyatt Denny .................................. 243 3. Jacob Lees .................................... 219 4. Jesse Gonzales ........................... 214.5 WANTING MORE Competing at the RAMNCFR is a stepping stone to his ultimate goals, qualifying for his first Wrangler National Finals Rodeo and winning the world title. tie-down roping and team roping BY MATT NABER C alifornia has a new gold rush underway, as the 2019 season kicked off with bull rider Justin Rickard winning his first RAMCalifornia Circuit Finals Rodeo. With the taste of glory still lingering, the Californian cowboy is seeking a gold buckle during his eighth season of PRCA competition. Rickard won the first round of the RAMCCFR with an 88-point ride on Rosser Rodeo’s Hash Tag. He went on to place third in the final round with an 81-point ride, giving him the lead in the average with 169 points on two head. “It was a good bull riding, and it was pretty stiff competition with a lot of good guys from around California,” Rickard said. “It’s hard to be there.” Rickard entered the Lancaster rodeo ranked 10th in the California Circuit with $5,137. “It’s awesome, I’ve been to the circuit finals six or seven times and this is my first win, we were due,” Rickard said. Rickard’s efforts at the finals were worth $6,079 – nearly as much as his entire 2018 season earnings. “I think it’s the most I’ve won at a single rodeo, and it’s awesome,” Rickard said. “I love it, and it’s good for the pocketbook and the world standings.” More importantly, this win earns him a spot at the RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo alongside childhood friend Aaron Williams, who topped the California Circuit year-end standings for bull riding with $11,215. Both cowboys started out riding sheep and calves at the same youth rodeos when they were kids and have risen through the ranks over the years into their PRCA careers. “It was really good to see Justin not only win but ride some good bulls and get back to riding the way he should,” Williams said. “It was a rough year on him, and it was good to see him ride the way he did and win. It’s going to be great to go to Kissimmee (Fla.) with such a close and good friend of mine.”

Justin Rickard’s 81-point ride on Bridwell Pro Rodeo’s Renewed Spirit brought a $6,079 payday and qualification for the 2019 RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo for winning the RAM California Circuit Finals Rodeo. Gene Hyder photo

“Step 1 is making the NFR,” Rickard said. “I’ll get an early start like we have and carry it all through the year to all the rodeos.” During the 2018 season, Rickard won the Jurupa Valley (Calif.) Pro Rodeo with an 87-point ride on Honeycutt Rodeo’s True Believer, June 2. He won the Folsom (Calif.) Pro Rodeo with an 83-point ride on Rosser Rodeo’s No. 230/4 on July 1. His third win of the season came during the final weekend of the 2018 season with an 83.5-point ride on Salt River Rodeo’s Broken Halos at the Poway (Calif.) Rodeo. “It was good to see him happy and confident after winning the (circuit) finals, that was a problem for him in the past,” Williams said. “His confidence gets low, and he gets weighed down and bucked off more. So, I was happy to see my buddy happy.”

STEER WRESTLING 1. Blaine Jones ........... 15.5 sec. on three 2. Sterling Lambert ........................... 19.0 3. Dillon Hushour ............................. 19.6 4. Josh Garner .................................. 24.0

TEAM ROPING 1. B. Hirdes/K. Lockett .31.5 sec. on three 2. DeForest/Holcomb ..... 10.1 sec. on two 3. R. Reed/M. Petska ........................ 10.3 4. L. Karney /W. Hansen ................... 14.9

ProRodeo Sports News 10/19/2018

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